We left right after work on Wednesday, Feb 16. Of course the weather had started up and we had quite a head wind to fight all the way through! In fact, the weather was not a favorite part of the trip, but we still had fun! We drove to Buffalo Bills, in Primm Nevada, just outside of Vegas. We arrived about 11 pm...dead tired! We got to our room, got jammies on and we were out! All of us real tired. The boys were so good, but asking about Fillmore, when are we going to be there??? Thank heavens for DVD players! My favorite part of this stop...Talan first thing in the morning about 6 am...."cock a doodle doo....cockle a doodle doo....! I just started to giggle and he said, "what?" that wasn't me....it's time to get up, didn't you hear that!" Do you think he was excited!
After breakfast at Denny's, we headed on our way. Disneyland here we come! I had purchased little toys to pass the time. Every hour or so, I would pop out with a new toy for them to play with. They had coloring books with markers, legos, a car that flashed that they could decorate with stickers, play dough. Those surprises were fun! Poor Payson was complaining of his ears hurting...the feeling of they won't pop like when your in the Mountains. We all had colds and I kept telling him I know, mine hurt too, just keep stretching your mouth in a yawn! By the time we arrived, he was really hurting and trying not to complain. We bought him some Advil and that seemed to help. We arrived at the Castle Inn about 2 PM. I had originally planned on having a low key day, swim, just relax and hit Disneyland the next 3 days, but the weather report was ugly so we decided to start right away while the sun shined! First ride was the Matterhorn. Payson had told Talan that was one of his favorite rides, so they decided that would be our first ride. Good choice, the line wasn't long at all-the rest of the week it was! We had a dinner reservation at Goofy's kitchen for Talan's birthday dinner at 5 PM so we had some time to get a few rides in. After that, we headed to Toone town and took on Roger Rabbit's ride, cause no line out the door. Very misleading though...line there was probably one of our longest of the weekend, but the kids had fun playing on the props! Soon it was time to head to Disneyland Hotel for dinner...on the OTHER side of Disneyland of course. We jumped on the Monorail where it drops you almost to the front door of the hotel. That was awesome! Have to remember that for next time! Saved us from some tired legs! The dinner was fun, not as many characters as before. Wonder if that is part of the economy, or just the time of year we went. When we took Payson, so many characters were part of that dinner, but this time only a few. Talan still at the age where he LOVES them, but is particular of who he likes. He was polite when the Princess's came by, but really didn't care if they signed his book or not. Would really rather they not! But he LOVES Pluto and Goofy & Mickey! He whispers to me..."Pluto's legs kind of feel like human legs!" And another time, asks me why they don't talk, cause they do on TV! Would love to get in the head of a child again! Wonder what all those little thoughts are! Payson loves some of the characters as well, but being 8, well, he's even more specific of who he likes and has to remain cool when having them sign and pose for pictures. My favorite is when he's with one of the chipmunks and he's making a silly sign with his hand to make it look like he has a beard. He thought that was pretty funny! Each of the boys had money to spend. Their parent's sent $200 to help with food and spending. The ONLY thing Payson really wanted was the Chipmunk hat and to be sure to take something home for Preslie and Hayden. I thought that was cute! Talan had his heart set on a shirt with a skeleton pirate on it..."you know Gramma, the one with X's on it" as he crosses his tummy to describe what it should look like. He bought a hat, a shirt and they both picked out a keychain for Mickie and they were good. They didn't hound us or beg and cry to shop for anything else. They were so good and pleasant to be with. Such a fun memory. Both so happy all the time, even though they weren't feeling the best! Talan had a sinus infection before we left and was on medicine for that and Payson was slowly coming down with it while there, but never complained! ANYWHays... the dinner was fun! They sang happy birthday to Talan with a cupcake and it was a buffet with little and big people food. Even peanut butter and jelly pizza, and all the sea food that Grampa could want! The characters all come around to your table and they dance and goof off in the isles with the kids throughout dinner! We had our picture taken with Goofy upon arrival, they take a professional one and also take one with your camera. I stayed with our camera and denied the upscale pricey picture they offered us. Kind of wish I would have bought it...it was way cute and not blurry like my camera! Wonder if they did that on purpose! One day, I would like to be rich enough to stay at that hotel...man is it ever nice, but ours was just fine as well. Right across the street from Disneyland and about 1 block from the entrance. Had an outdoor pool that Payson swam in once, but the rest of us said NO WAY...to cold for us whimps! I think we can take the kids to a hotel in Salt Lake City and swim and they would think they had died and gone to heaven!
After dinner at Goofy's kitchen, we headed over to California Adventure and rode the Toy Story ride. That is one of our family favorites. You ride as two and it's set up like a carnival where you shoot at different targets. It's addicting really! The score is something you try to beat each time. At the end of the ride it gives your score, the highest for the year, the day and that specific ride. It's crazy fun! Brandyn told the boys to ride it twice, once for him and once for them. When we got off that ride, we could see that it was about time for the new Color Water show and we were on the back side. All the tickets had been given away when we arrived that afternoon, but people were gathered here on the back side of it, so we thought we would give it a try. It's a water fountain show, like the one at the Balgeio in Vegas, but they show characters and song's projected through the water. Mick's friend Brooke told me, "it's a must see" so we waited and watched from behind. It was cool, but you could tell the other side would be SOOOO MUCH better, so the next day we thought we would give it a try. Disneyland and California Adventure land close at 8 during the week, so all the rides were done for the night and well...we were too! It's amazing how a long drive will wear you out! So we headed back to our hotel. The walk wasn't really too bad, but the weather made it a little rough. The boys were troopers and walked the whole way. Found out later that Mick & Brandyn had drilled the boys that they were walking on their own, that we were NOT to carry them! They didn't even ask. Talan would say he was tired and we would rest for a minute, then he would be okay to go! What a big boy he has become! The wind and rain had kicked up, so it was a little cold and wet going back, but it wasn't bad! We snuggled all in with some warm dry jammies and it was off to dream land until the next day of fun! The boys slept in, even Mr early bird Talan. We just let them sleep as long as they wanted. Rick had decided to go for a walk....a much longer walk than he intended! He thought he would venture around the outside of Disneyland, not realizing just how big that place really is. I bet it was a good 7 or 8 mile walk he took that morning, if not longer! He was tired before we even began! We told the boys that we needed to be a little bit organized so we could have time to ride everything that day..start at one end and work to the other. Payson said, "can we go to the Castle?" Well, yes Pays...that's just the entrance into all the magic...For some reason, he thought it was a ride, and even told his Mom that we didn't let him ride the Castle ride. Not sure what he thought he missed, cause we pretty much hit it all. (Except for the girly princess stuff!).
Disneyland offers the photopass as you enter Disneyland. They have photographers all over the place. You begin with the little pass with your # on it and keep it throughout your trip. When your with the characters, and of course the entrance, they take your pictures and then at the end of your trip, you take it to the photo center and purchase the pictures you like. I end up buying the CD with all of them, cause you just can't decide. It's really worth it I think! Those memories just are not ever going to be the same and it's nice to have them captured on a professional camera as well. AND....You don't have to bug some stranger to take your group photo so everyone is in it!
Friday morning, the first thing we did was head right to the Main street office. It was time to announce why we were celebrating at Disneyland. And.....Goofy had a sweet message just for Talan, so they called him on the phone so he could talk to him personally! Talan LOVED it. Then he was given a special birthday button to wear all day long! The day started out partly sunny, with just an overcast. About lunch time, we were at the Jedi Training area at just the right time. A new training for Jedi's was about to begin. We ran right over and got the boys a spot, front and center and reminded them how to act to get picked to go up front! Payson was pro from the prior trip! We bought lunch right there and ate while we waited . Soon it was time to act like a Jedi...scream and shout and jump up & down so you will be picked. First they picked Payson, and I was excited, but my heart was sad cause it's Talan's birthday...didn't they know that! He needed to be up there too! And soon, yes the boy with the Birthday button was chosen to join his big bro! It was fun to watch them enjoy this interaction with the Jedi Team! We rode the Autorama, teacups, Peter Pan ride, Pirates of the Carribean, the Jungle ride, Tarzan's tree house...and Rick & Payson rode Indiana Jones. We were in line but were quickly instructed that Talan was not tall enough! That's gay! So we rode Buzz light year and shopped in the stores while they took their ride. As the afternoon wore on, about 4ish, the rain really started to come down. I saw that the stores were offering Ponchos so I bought me and the kids one. Rick said he was fine...(.next time hon, your getting one!) The ponchos kept us dry most of the afternoon...and it was still fun. But about 530 Payson looked at me and said he wanted to go back. You could tell he didn't feel good! He hadn't eaten ANYTHING all day either. He just wasn't himself. So, he and Rick went back to the hotel and Talan and I continued on with our play. It was fun. We enjoyed Toone Town almost to ourselves. The only bad thing is, the cool playground wasn't so cool all wet and puddles! But we walked right in to see Mickey Mouse and walked on pretty much any ride Talan wanted to go on. Talan was all about Donald Duck and wanted to see his house. Of course it's a boat...and we checked that out as well. Buzz Lightyear had been broken all day, and was now running....sort of. It kept stopping with the apology of delay...but it was still fun! We even did the It's a small world ride...not that cool...kind of boring after a few chorus of the song! We were hungry and headed down Main street to the little cafe for a sandwich...unfortunately, they were closed so the only thing I could find us was hot chocolate and cookies. Talan said he wanted the hot chocolate and it sounded so good for my tired throat from coughing so that's what we ordered. Gramma, I don't like this, it's hot! Hmmm....thank goodness for the Capri Sun in your back pack! It was getting to be about time for the water show and Talan really wanted to see it so I said, let's give it a try, even if we DON't have tickets. We went over and found ourselves a perfect little bench to sit on. People were standing on it and they kept telling them that they could stay there, but they would have to sit down. They were all Asian and didn't seem to understand English. Talan got a good laugh at listening to them, and I pretended to talk like them too. "Gramma, how do you know how to talk like them?" GIGGLE GIGGLE! ...Then a power hungry teen worker came by and told us that we couldn't sit there at all. I said, well two of your other co-workers have just told us that we can, as long as we stay sitting down and we're sitting so we would like to stay. The two workers discussed some and then told us to stay but sit. Yes, Sir...urrr... a little annoying as we were all sitting! Then the show began. Of course EVERYONE stood so they could see, so Talan & I moved forward. They asked me for my tickets, and I said, I'm sorry, I don't have any and he smiled and said, I'm not suppose to, but you can move up here...NICE! The show began, but the bad thing, you have to stand to watch this show...late and tired legs not so good, but it would have been okay. The show began and so did the wind and the characters were all distorted, so they soon came on the loud speaker and announced the show would be cancelled due to the weather. UGH! So we headed back to the hotel. The rain and wind had really began to come down. By the time we were back...soaked to the bone! Talan was sooo so big and walked the whole way. We would rest cause his legs hurt, but not for long and he was brave! Payson had pretty much been in bed the whole time. He really didn't feel good and Rick said he was pretty sure he had a fever. Gave him meds and he slept most of the time.
Saturday again started out partly cloudy with some sunshine. Payson was DIEING to go on the Tower of Terror. He hadn't bought his special souvenier yet so we went inside Disneyland first to get that hat, then headed over to California Adventure land to hit those rides. I believe they got on the first ride of the day. Talan & I rode Monster's Inc while they were gone. Then we were off to Bug's land. They loved the little bumper ride and lady bug spin ride! While we were headed over to ride Toy Story again, we saw Woody & a green Army Man!! YES....Talan was sooo excited. We told Pays and Gramps to get in line at Toy Story and we'd join them in a few. Talan really wanted to see Woody. Bonus that the Green Army Man was there! Unfortunately, just as we were about to have our turn, the good ol Disney troops announced that Woody had another engagement and would have to leave, but Jessie would be there instead. Talan didn't say a word, but he didn't have to. Not a happy camper. Jessie isn't as cool as Woody for a 5 year old boy! Everyone KNOWS that! But he remained cool! When it was his turn, he had the Green Army Man sign his book and I believe Jessie did too, but it was obvious that Jessie was not winning him over. The photographer captured that with a few pictures that I thought were great! She really paid attention to what was important to Talan and took pictures of what he thought was cool! We caught up with Payson & Gramps at Toy Story and rode that ride again. Rick & I tried throughout the weekend to trade off with each boy. Talan wanted to be with me each time, but mostly I think he wanted to bug Payson. If Payson wanted a turn with me, Talan would put up a little stink, but we didn't play into it and it was all fine! They were so good, not perfect, just normal brothers and we all had such a good time!
We rode the HUGE HUGE ferris wheel and it was my idea to choose the side that rocked. You ride in a basket where 4-6 can fit. Payson & Gramps on one side and me & Talan on the other. It is so big that you can see the entire Disneyland and California Adventure land, including the city around it. And...the rocking...well, I thought Talan was going to fly out of his seat and I was grabbing him for dear life. It actually freaked me right out and all the boys, small and large got a kick out of that! California Adventureland is going to be HUGE when they have added all the new additions! You will need a 3 day pass just to enjoy that section and 3 days for Disneyland! Most of the rides are geared for the bigger kids, so I can see that as the family ages, we'll loose the big ones to that Adventureland and the little ones will enjoy Disneyland! Our trip with the girls will be a much different trip as well, involving more of the princess side of the resort! Can't wait for that too! Actually, I could go back now. I LOVE that place! Wish I lived closer! But mostly, I love enjoying it with those that I love! It seems crazy to me that the next trip will be with Kallie and Preslie when they are 5. Preslie will be 4...and I can't wait! We had so much fun with the boys. It was a special one on one time with them. I hope they will always LOVE to hang out with Gramma and Grammpa...cause they some of my favorite people! Thanks for going with us boys! Love you to the moon & back!
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